Celebrating incredible women: Laos Buffalo Dairy
Greetings,
March is Women’s History Month, when we celebrate the accomplishments of incredible women throughout our history up to today. As both a Navy sailor and a Spirit of America Program Manager, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many amazing women who have achieved great things for their families, their communities, or their entire nations.
One such woman was Mrs. Ea, the first farmer in Laos to take a chance on a crazy idea at the time: milking buffalo.
As I noted in my email a few weeks ago, the US Embassy in Laos and Spirit of America have teamed up to support the Laos Buffalo Dairy as it provides opportunity and additional nutrition for the people of Luang Prabang Province and serves as a visible reminder of America’s status as the partner of choice for developing nations.
In addition to creating jobs, healthier livestock, and additional sources of food in Luang Prabang, the dairy also provides internships for local women in the community, helping them learn skills and gain experience to prepare them for the workforce. As 70% of the illiterate population in Laos are women, educational initiatives like these are crucial. Click here to learn more about the Dairy.
SoA is proud to work alongside female partners in the field like Mrs. Ea, and to support the many American female servicemembers and diplomats serving our nation abroad. I look forward to many more opportunities like this to empower women all across the globe.
Until next time,
Terrell Chandler
Regional Program Manager – Asia Pacific